Monday, 16 October 2017

“Jacqui Rowe’sBlink shares extraordinary visions
of personhood and place, giving voice to the many voiceless figures
in her finely tuned ekphrasis and emotive allegorical poems inspired by
the likes of Apollinaire, Verlaine, and Lorca. Combined with plaintive
elegies for both loved ones and her heartland, this is
syntactically refreshing poetry that serves to move and inspire.” Robert Harper

“Sometimes a poetry collection won’t let you
put it down. This is one such collection. In Blink, Jacqui Rowe has
transcended the mere act of description, lifting the poems from the page with a
lyrical palette knife, painting each scene with an intelligent, witty and
moving style. This is how to write poetry. I will return to these poems again
and again.” Wendy Pratt

Sunday, 8 October 2017

We're very very delighted to share more wonderful reviews of Antony Owen's The Nagasaki Elder.

"Antony Owen’s fifth collection, The Nagasaki Elder (V Press), is one of those compelling slim volumes that reminds you what poetry can do when it confronts the big themes of our times – or any times. Those themes don’t get any bigger than war, and its obscene effects on civilians sacrificed on the altar of geopolitical manoeuvres. What marks out Owen’s work as exceptional is the illuminating perspectives he brings to a subject that is already so well travelled...

"He writes universally, but with an insider’s eye. In doing so, he has written a collection that bridges past and present, and could not be more timely."Neil Young, The Poets' Republic, Autumn 2017 (The issue containing the full review may be bought here.)

"As the world watches today in apprehension and disbelief as test missiles from North Korea pass over Japan, his motives must be applauded. Owen has taken care to distil his anger and pity. His poetry is not in-your-face protest, but crafted, lyrical, and resonant."

Greg Freeman, WriteOutLoud(Full review here.)
More information about The Nagasaki Elder and a sample poem can be found here.